Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1980's

o 00 0') ....-4 (Above) Waillngsford - one half of the overall winning team. (Below) Daryl Folks (pictured) teamed with Billy McDaniel for the 125cc Pro win. Rardenl Wallingslord level Las' Vegas "400" By Dr. Gonzo Photos by Norman Kauke JEAN, NV, APR. 12 In a dazzling display of rough-course mastery, super-team Scot Harden and Brent Wallingsford piloted the Pat Friel's Valley Plasteringsponsored, Team Husky-supplied Husqvarna 390CR to overall victory in the r £ h ual L V grue mg oun ann as egas "400" professional desert motorcycle race. 18 The winners covered the four 92mile loops in 10:12.05, while besting the second place Yamaha off-road team/Hi-Point Racing Products/Dale's Modern Cycle entry of Yamaha YZ465Gmounted Bruce Ogilvie and Chuck Miller by 19 minutes. The race was marred by the disqualification of the other Yamaha off-road team entrants, Jack Johnson and Bob Rutten. Johnson, fourth at the time, disintegrated a front wheel on the finish _ .~_ portion of his third loop, 15 miles from the pits. His crew hustled him a spare to the remote location and in doing so enacted the penalty for servicing the bike outside of the designated pit area. It was a tough judgement for race organizer Casey Folks to levy, however, it had to be and both Johnson and Rutten accepted the decision in a professional manner. The Brothers Pfeiffer, Kent and Scott, put together the big 250cc class win that has heen brewing all year. The Roy's Boys R~c~ Team/Premier Yamaha YZ25OG-ndmg duo cranked out a superb showing and capitalized a._ .;.:..;.; on the misfortunes of two hot-riding local teams. The 125cc division was the closest fought battle with Las Vegans Billy McDaniel and Daryl Folks bringing their Sportsman Cycle sponsored Suzuki RMI25T across the checkers a scant one minute, 17 seconds ahead of the Mike Welch/Johnny Harshman S&E Cycles Can-Am. The Over ~O class honors went to the Dick Allen Yamaha YZ465Gmounted team of Rick Shirey and John "Smokebomb" Gaetz who had to hold off the last lap charge of northern Utah tough guys, Preston Gerber and Don Fuller. Jack Froelich and Bruce Lewelleyn set the pace in the Over ~8 class on their Yamaha YZ465, topping the Las Vegas "400" backed, Husqvama ~9OCR powered pair of SoCal super-senior Art Knapp and Las Vegas "400" sponsor Sam Bass. Harden and Johnson were running close in elapsed time as they led the Open class in the formative stages of the race'. Not far behind came the Team Husqvama ~90CR of local Fred Hansen, Jr. who was teamed with SoCal great Terry Clark, followed by 'Vegan Mel Chapman on the S&E Cycles Can-Am and Yamaha's Bruce Ogilvie. Pre-race darlthorse-hope Sid Tarbett and Kris Morgan spun a flywheel and lost 45 minutes getting back on the line but were determined to run their big- bore Husky till it blew. The 250cc Pro race was going hot'n'heavy with Sportsman Cycles' Bobby Davidson and Nevada Yamaha's Troy Fitch sharing the class lead. Jeff Kaplan, riding a Husky 250CR with Jimmy Jackson, and Scott Pfeiffer advanced from their late starting positions to command third and fourth respectively at the second gas stop. The 125cc Pro bash was shaping up to be a local affair. Parker 125cc winners Bob Maxwell and Randy Coulter seized their Yamaha while Morgan Malocco and Donnie Morrison blew the rod in theirs. The Scott Coutts/ Scott Atchison combo was dealt a crushing blow when Coutts crashed heavily in the rocks after the start and separated some ribs. The Steve Wiseman/Rick Schumaker team were tied with Mike Welch for the Intermediate lead but were fated to drop out with mechanical problems. Daryl . Folks and the Nevada Yamaha-backed Benny Brown/Kevin Gashler effort ran second and third respectively. "Smokebomb" Gaetz was in charge of the Over 50 class, circulating with a lead that was destined to lengthen over the Mark Force/Jim Lynch, AI Hoskin! Jon Ogren and Don Fuller endeavors. In Over ~8 class action Art Knapp was looking good with a three minute lead over Jack Froelich. At the halfway mark in the race Wallingsford commanded a 15minute lead over Miller. Johnson and ~:of~~~c~~~m: back to fourth place behind Terry Clark, 22 minutes off the pace. Clark and Miller were having a heated dice r; ~~l ~e:;:~~c;et;tthrr:n~~:n tank bolt. Miller was also delayed with a much needed clutch adjustment and air-cleaner change. Clark was again by Miller only to puncture another tire. Miller regained second and held it to the checkers. The Kevin Welch/Mel Chapman Can-Am climbed to second during the height of everyone else's problems but lost it all when their orange bike munched three rear backing plates. By the 250 mile mark the lead 250cc Pro bike of Chuck Rush and Bobby Davidson had blown its main bearing and tu,:"ed the .class lead over to the Troy Fltch/KevlD Steele team. Steele held "...... a precarious two. minute lead OYer .. . .. .. the Pfeiffers who in tum zapped the flat-tire delayed mount of Kaplan/ Jackson for second place. Benny Brown had the 125cc Pro lead at the completion of lap two only to run out of gas and turn the lead back over to Johnny Harshman. Billy McDaniels pressured Harshman unmercifully while trying to close the one minute gap. Harden took the checkers on what seemed like the culmination of a perfect day for himself and teammate Breant Wallingsford. Scot later said, "The bike was running real rich. We re-jetted it twice during the race but it still pulled like a 250cc. We never did get it right - fortunately we had a big enough lead not to worry about it." Ogilvie and Miller finished second, ahead of the Clark/Hansen team. Sid Tarbett and Kris Morgan burned and turned all day to make up their lost time and finished an incredible sixth overall, founh Open Pro from their ~2nd overall position on the fU'St lap. A big upset was in the making as Kevin Steele set out to cover the last ~5 miles of the race with a three minute lead over Kent Pfeiffer. Pfeiffer was really layin' -on-it to catch Steele and unloaded heavily. It looked like Lady Luck had for the third time this year frowned upon the Pfeiffer boys but no sooner had Kent got it going again then he came around the comer to see Steele immobilized with a broken chain. Pfeiffer flogged it to the finish and was visibly thrilled that he got the good break this time around. "Cousin" Chris Howard, riding a Valley Cycle Yamaha with Leroy Kyger, forged by Jeff Kaplan's ailing scooter and also motored by the still stuck Steele for second place. Steele pieced his chain back together in time to finish third, five seconds ahead of Kaplan. Daryl Folks pressed by Mike Welch for the 125cc Pro lead which he maintained to the checkered. Doug Winchell and Steve Webb put in a steady ride and fmished third on their Husky 125. Shirey and Gaetz held fast to their Over 50 class lead, winning by three minutes over the fast-finishing second place team of Don Fuller and Preston Gerber. Al Hoskins and Jon Ogren finished third on their Nevada Yamaha YZ465 . Smooth riding veterans Froelich and Lewellyn bagged the Over ~8 class laurels. Early class leader Sam Bass saw his hopes for victory dashed along with the tire tha t slipped off the rim of his Husky. Bass rode five miles on the rim, including pavement, and when he fmally pitted the remnants of the tire had to be cut off with a hacksaw. Bass recovered to finish second. • Results 125 PRO: 1. BiIy Mcll8nieIIlleryI _ . 11 :56:41 lSuzl: 2. Midleol Welch/Johnny _ . 11:56:58 lCAl:3.S_WIbbItloug_.12:10:00fHusl;4. Bennie lIrownIKevin <*Nor IVomI: 5. Bob _ _ ea.- RInly IV...). 250cc PRO: 1. s-t Pfeiffer/Kenl Pfeiffer. 10:48:20 IV...); 2. Chris -......,., KYllO'. 11:22:44 IVornI; 3. Troy _~. 11:32:28 IVomI: 4. Jell KopIorV Jimmy JDIan fHusl; 5. ~ AnliIIfT. "-quolono _enl IV...I. OPEN PRO: 1. Scot Wallingoford. 10:12:05IHuo1; 2 . _ ()glIvio/CI-..c Miller. 10'.31:08 IV...); 3. Torry ClorkIFrod _ . Jr.• 10'.38:33 tHusl; 4. Sid Ta1lotlIKris Morgon. 11 :27:19 1_: 5. Bob EwingIR. .....,.,. 11:49:00 ISWM). OVER 30 PRO: 1. Rick Shifeyr"Smolceborm" Goelz. 11:52:53 IV...): 2. Don FuIorIPleoton Gerber. 11:58:07. IV...I; 3. Jon Ogren/AI Hoskins. 12:46:40 IV...I; 4. Mort< ForcoIJim Lynch IVomI; 5. Chud< Grimoley/Monle Gerber IHuol. OVER 38 PRO: 1. Jeck L.....,U.yn. 12:17:37 IV...I; 2. Som _Art KI1lIpp. 12:28:13 CHusl: 3. Dewey Belvin/Manny 1 _• 11:18:38 tHus). _ 125cc SPORTSMAN: 1. Todd JohneonlRoberl Cieri<. (Yernl: 2. Kevin KeelelKenllY Keel. CSuzl; 3. S _ AbbonlS'lMI Petterson lSuzl; 4. s.n SteolelChris Northrup ISuz): 5. Tullldey NorthruplScott Benshoof _uce IG~I. 250cc SPORTSMAN: ,. - . . Hit8chewiGlen WlIChmeyer ISuzl; 2. Rich Cepri/Pet Mulchey (Yam): 3. Art l.anier1S_ Beck lHon): 4. BiD Quinn/Jim Woschmeyer IHuol: 5. S _ DevisiGery Zupenic IHus). OPEN SPORTSMAN: 1. Doug Sted1lende

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